Safety device for punch-machines.



E. L. GALE, SR. SAFETY DEVICE FOR PUNCH MACHINES. APPLICATION FILEDOOT.12, 1911.

1,095,497, U 4 1 PatentedMay5,1914.

I Ir T m 13$ UNITED STATES; PATENT enrich; A

ERNEST L. GALE, $3., 01 YONKE RS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATORCOM- PANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

sAr'E'rY DEVICE ronyruncnvmcnmns.

To all wi m it may concern Be it a. 'a citizen of the United States,residing at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety Devices forPunch-Machines, of which the following a specification.

I My invention relates to safety d vices for use in connection withpunching machines. An object of the invention is to provide means toprevent the operation of the machine except when the operator has bothhands employed in a safe position, thereby 5 preventing the danger ofthe punch being operated while the attendants hand is neath the diecarrier. A further object of the invention is to provide means toprevent the operation of the punch press while the pick-off device isbeneath the die carrier. l

. Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation viewof a punching machine with the presentinvention applied thereto; Fig. 2is a sectional view showing the die in plan; Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticview of the electrical devices and circuits employed.

The punch press is carried by a verticalstandard or support S in theupper end of which is mounted a shaft 1 to which is secureda pulley P.The latter is connected, by means of a belt B, to any suitable source ofpower. A die. carrier 4 is mounted on the bed plate 6 in positiontocooperate with thepunch carrier 3. The die D, as shown in Fig. 2, isprovided with a central opening 5, so that the punching machine isadapted to produce laminations for an armature of a dynamo electricmachine. In the process of making a punching, the pulley P is given onecomplete revolution, causing the punch carrier to be moved downward andcooperate with a die to form a punching and then lifted to its initial.position.

I Thepa'r icular form of mechanism for reciprocatin the punch carrier isnot shown in detail as it does not, itself, form a part of the presentinvention, and varies widely in the different makes of machines to whichmy invention may be applied.

' The pulley P is connected to operate the die carrier by, means of atrip device comprising a pawl or cam lever 7 mounted onaclutch, whichconnects the shaft'l with the Specification of Letters Patent.

own that I, ERNEST L. GALE, Sn,-

the' lever 15.

pivot 8 and cooperating withja cam 90f the' mechanism for operating thedie carrier. A

Patented May 5, 1914-. Application filed October 12, 1 911. SeriaI No.654,280. 7

spring 10 normally holds the lever 7 in its upward position in which theclutch is disconnected so that the pulley P runs free. The trip deviceis operated by an electromagnet 11, connected througha lever 12 and arod or link 13 to the lever 7. In circuit are two normally open pushbutton switches a and b. These switches are suitably located so thatboth hands of the attendant are required to close themand thereby effectthe' operation of the punch press. This forms a positive means forpreventing the attendant from accidentally placing either hand he neaththe die carrier or any dangerous position while the press is operating.Push button switches a and b, as shown in Fig. 1, are located one abovethe other on the standard S, but theymay be located in any other desiredor convenient position, as, for examwith the winding of theelectromagnet 11 ple, at the edge of the bed plate, it being important,however, that they be placed far enough apart so that they cannot both-be operated at the same time with one hand: I

The pickofi' device for removing the punchings and scrap, is .hereinshown as comprising a lever 15 having a pivot '16 mounted on the bedplate 6. An electromagnet 17, having extended pole pieces 18, is securedto A push button switch 19 is located in a handle 20 on the end of thelever 15.. The switch 19 is incircuit -with the winding of theelectromagnet 17 A switch 21 in circuit with the electromagnet 11comprises contacts carried by the lever 15 and thestandard S,respectivelyl Electric cun rent for operating the magnets 11 and 17 maybe supplied from any convenient and suitable source of electricity. J

The operation 'is as follows: When the sheet metal has been placed inposition on the die, the attendant closes the switches a and b bypressing a push button with each hand. This establishes a circuitthrough the magnet 11, switch 21, and switches a and b.

,The magnet 11 being thus energized, pulls its core downward, and,through its connections with the cam lever 7, pulls the latter intoosition to permit the operation of the clutc thereby causing theoperation of the punch carrier 3. The operator now releases the pushbutton switches and permits'a return of the cam lever 7, which, as-thepulley P completes a revolution, engages the cam 9 and releases theclutch, the parts being thus netic pick-o brought again to their initialposition. The operator now grasps the handle'20 of the piclnofi' device,and by closing the push button switch 19, energizes the magnet 17. Atthe same time the lever is swung inward, so that the magnet cores 18take hold of the sheet iron punching and scrap. The lever is thenreturned and the'push button switch- 19 released. As the contacts of theswitch 21 are separated when the pick 05 device is swung inward beneaththe punch carrier, the circuit through the magnet 11 can only beestablished and the punch operated when the pick off device is withdrawnfrom beneath the punch and carried to a safe position.

It will be apparent that the safety features comprised in the presentinvention are adapted for use with various forms of punching machines.As shown, for example, in the patent to Scott and Gale, 94:8,382,February 8, 1910, the pick-off device may be automatically operated, andvarious other automatic features and other'modifications and approveddevices are adapted to be used in conjunction with the novel features ofthe present invention. Various modifications of the safety apparatusherein shown might also be employed Without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention. 1 wish therefore not to be limited to theexact construction herein' disclosed.

'What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is 1. The combination of a punch press, a pick-off device,and means for preventing the operation of the punch press when the pickoff device is in an interfering position. 2. The combination of apunching ma chine comprising a vertically reciprocating punch carrier, apick-ofi device movable into position to remove the punchings, and meansautomatically to. prevent the operation of the punch carrier while thepick-off device is beneath said carrier. i

3. In combination, a punching machine comprising a unch carrier, anelectro-mag device adapted to remove punchings from the press, and meansto prevent the operation of the punch carrier while the pick-off deviceis in the path of the punch carrier, I

4. The combination of a punching machine comprising a punch carrier, anda die plate, power mechanism to operate the machine, an electromagnetcontrolling the operation of said power mechanism, a switch in thecircuit of said electromagnet, and a pick-0E device connected to andcontrolling said switch to prevent the operation ofthe punching machinewhile the piclnofl device is between the punch carrier and die plate.

of the noeaaov 5. In combination with a punching machine, anelectromagnet controlling the operation thereof, a plurality of manualswitches in circuit with the electromagnet winding, a pick-off device,and a switch in said circuit operated by the pick-off device.

6. The combination witha punchin machine, of operating mechanism-thereor, a pick-0E device, "and means to preventthe operation of the punchingmachine except when the pick-oii' device and both hands of an attendantare in predetermined safe positions. Y

7. In combination, with a punching machine, an electro-magnetic devicecontrolling the operation of the machine, a plurality of switches inseries in the circuit of said magnet, a pick-off device, and anadditional switch in series with said first-named switches and operatedby said pick-oft device.

8. The combination of a punching machine, an electroinagnet controllingthe operation of said machine, switches in series in the circuit of saidmachine and employing the hands of an attendantin safe positions whenthe machine is operated, an electromagnetic pick-ofi device, anadditional switch in series with said first-named switches, andcontrolled by the pick 0E device to prevent the operation of themachineexcept whenthe pick-0d device is in a safe position, and a switch incircuit'with the 95 pick-01f electromagnet, the circuit for the pick offelectromagnet being in parallel with the first named circuit.

9. The combination of a punching machine, a pick-off device comprisingan elec- 10o tromagnet movable into position to take hold of the disksor punchings, a manual switch in circuit .with the magnet forenergizing. the magnet to lift punchings and deenergize the magnetto'drop the punehlngs, 105 and means for preventing the operat1on of thepunching machine during the operation ick ofl device.

10. he'combination of a punching ma chine, an electro-magnetic pick-offdevice, and 0 a switch in circuit with the pick ofi' magnet to energizeand deenergize the magnet for picking oii' and dropping the punchmgs,and means for preventing the operatioirof the punching machine duringthe operation 5 of the pick ofi -device.

In testimony whereof, I have slgned my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST L. GALE, SR.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. STEELE, GEORGE D. Ross.

